COUNTRY INFORMATION
LOCATION:
Ecuador is a country with vast natural and cultural wealth. The most striking is the diversity of its four regions: the mountains (Sierra), the coastal region (Costa), the Amazon Jungle (Amazonía or Oriente), and fourthly, the insular region. Three regions of the continent extend from north to south, with the Andes Mountains dividing the coastal and the amazon regions in addition to the fourth region of the Galapagos Islands. This rich diversity in landscapes gives us as result hundreds of species of flora and fauna and a very diverse human culture.
ETNIA:
Ecuador is a multiethnic and pluri-cultural nation with a wide variety of cultures, languages and ethnic groups throughout the country. There are 27 different ethnic groups amongst indigenous and AfroEcuadorian people. This is the best expression of the diversity of the country.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
Ecuador’s official language is Spanish; but Quichua, the country’s largest ancestral language, is spoken by a small part of the population. Besides Spanish, ten native languages are spoken in Ecuador. English is the most spoken foreign language amongst tourist providers and professionals.
MONEY AND CURRENCY:
Ecuador’s currency is the US American Dollar. We recommend you take $10 and $20-dollar bills with you, as these are the most commonly accepted in shops; $50 and $100 dollar bills will be more difficult to use, and may only be accepted/broken in banks and/or hotels.
CREDIT CARDS:
Such as American Express, Diners Club, Master Card and Visa are normally accepted in restaurants and retail stores around Quito, however for day-trips and market visits we recommend you always bring along cash. ATM’s are widely available, but most likely they will charge a small commission for every use.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS:
The government of Ecuador requires a proof of the yellow fever vaccination if you are traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever (this does not include the US). Please check if your country is on this list before you travel.
VISA ARRANGMENTS
Ecuador welcomes people from all over the world who wish to visit it for a short period of time and also to establish a temporary or a permanent residency. Most people do not require a visa prior to visit Ecuador for a stay of up to 90 days. Nonetheless, citizens (passport holders) from the following countries must obtain a visa at the Ecuadorian consulate of their jurisdiction:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Senegal, Cuba, North Korea.
For a full list of countries required obtaining visa please visit: